Black Jack taught my little girl so much more than how to ride. He taught her how to love with all her heart.
Black Jack taught her to work hard and to never give up.
Black Jack taught her to get back on when she fell off.
Black Jack taught her that big things come in little packages.
Black Jack taught her about second chances and giving grace.
Black Jack taught her to enjoy another person’s joy when she shared her pony.
Black Jack taught her to be soft and kind and to always find the good.
Black Jack taught her to love and gave her a passion for sharing the gift of horses with others.
Recently, we lost a beloved partner and friend, her precious pony Black Jack. When Eden heard the news she collapsed in heartache. She wept for his absence and the hole she felt in her heart. She mourned the loss of a partner and friend….. we cried with her….
Overtime and through many tears, the Lord gave her strength. She was reminded that this did not catch the Lord off guard. That each of our days are numbered, and that he sees every tear. She slowly began to praise the Lord for the gift of her sweet pony and for all the joy he had given to so many.
With a show only a few days away. Her sweet heart hurt without him. She felt hesitant to use his tack and wore a necklace made out of his tail around her neck.
At the show a few days later, she needed to ride Chase in her pony’s absence. It brought many tears. At one point she said “for 4 years I have worked to jump 2 feet at a show and now I can’t share it with him.”
This is a tribute to Black Jack — and to every pony who has helped make a little girl’s dreams come true.
That day, Chase — a seasoned, faithful partner — carried on the work of a pony and helped a little girl achieve a dream: her first clear 2-foot course in the big arena. With steady strength and a generous heart, he cared for a rider whose own heart was still healing.
At the Fox Lake Farms Hunter Show, Eden-Micah Stanley won first place in Equitation against 21 beautiful riders on simply impressive mounts. She was humbled and thankful. All the things the pony had taught her, brought her to this moment.
There will always be riders who jump higher and accomplish more. But one of the most beautiful truths about our Savior is this: He loves us personally. He sees us. He cares about the small things — our dreams, our hurts, our quiet victories.
When we submit to him, he promises to give us the desires of our hearts. Not that we will win all the time, as that is definitely not the case. But there is a great blessing in our hardship. One of the real secrets is that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. As we draw near to him in our heartache, failure, and pain we find a true Savior, an Abba Father, someone who is more than we can think or imagine. A Lord who owns the cattle on a thousand hills, who calls us his own. A Father who pursues us, forgives us, and makes us white as snow. He takes a heart of stone, and gives us a new heart.
So, we honor Black Jack and all the steady mounts that teach us all to love and to have grit. We thank the Lord for the amazing blessing that horses play in our lives. We are humbled and thankful for the incredible opportunity we have to share these incredible horses with others.
To Black Jack, thank you for all you gave. You were an incredible teacher, and you will always be loved.
